September 28th, 2005

You know you're old (again) when you see people you used to work with in the obituaries.

We didn't call him "Suprdave" at work, at least I didn't, and don't recall ever hearing anyone else at work call him that.

I wonder from what he died. He was only 58.

DAVID CAREY BRIDEGUM "SUPRDAVE" PASSED AWAY SATURDAY, September 24, 2005 at home surrounded by his family.

SuprDave was born on March 24, 1947 in Berlin, Pennsylvania to the late Evelyn and Earl Bridegum. Employed by IBM for 32 yrs, he served in various assignments including computer programmer, analyst and advisory engineer. Two of his most rewarding and challenging career accomplishments included his involvement on NASA's Apollo 16 and Skylab mission in Houston, TX and his computer expertise at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. In 1978 his career brought him to Cary, NC where he has lived ever since. Upon retirement he received his Real Estate Appraiser License. SuprDave was an avid sports enthusiast. He coached his son's basketball, baseball, and soccer teams in the Cary community for several years.

SuprDave was an intelligent, loving, caring, and giving father with a great sense of humor and passion for life.

Surviving are: fiance Nancy Jane Compton of Cary; former wife, Laura of Cary; three sons, Stephen David Bridegum with wife, Stacey and daughter, Maddison of Newnan, GA, Michael Todd Bridegum and his girlfriend, Deborah Barratt of Cary, Jason Carey Bridegum and wife, Caithlin of Cary. three brothers, Harry Bridegum of Berlin, PA, Bill and Alma Jean Bridegum of Silvr Spring, MD, Wayne Bridegum and wife, Bernice of Hyattsville, Maryland.He was preceded in death by his sister, Sarah Jane Bridegum.

A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2005 from 7 - 9 p.m. at Brown- Wynne Funeral Home, 200 S.E. Maynard Road in Cary.Contributions may be made in his memory to the American Red Cross or to a charity of one's choice.

I didn't know the person below, but he sounds like a real character. I've highlighted some of my favorite things about this obituary.

I found the fact that he died three weeks after the death of his wife [which is rare, but I've heard of it before -- that sort of "it's-not-worth-living-without-him/her-anymore" possibility] more interesting when I read that he suffered from Alzheimer's. It makes me wonder if he was lucid enough to comprehend her recent death.

WILLARD H. CAULKINS, Jr., 81, died at his home, September 23, three weeks after the death of his wife of 52 years, Barb. They are together again.

Always the free spirit, Will had a unique sense of humor. Even at his 60 year high school reunion classmates were recalling some of his pranks. He operated heavy equipment, welded, and ran his own auto service station. He could fix anything mechanical or electrical and loved to restore automobiles and drive them fast. Barb and Will enjoyed traveling to the Caribbean and driving around the U.S. He loved his pet cats and dogs; he often read a book a day and had an incredible appetite for knowledge and trivia.

Will was born in Philadelphia, PA on September 15, 1924, the only child of Willard H. and Helen March Caulkins. He graduated from Springfield H.S. (Delaware County, PA) in 1942 and served as a paratrooper and scout with the 82nd Airborne in Europe during World War II. His rebellious nature enabled him to earn the rank of Private First Class seven times. He was involved with the invasion of Holland, saw heavy action during the Battle of the Bulge, and at war's end liberated a concentration camp. He continued to serve occupation duty in Berlin until January 1946 and marched in a victory parade down New York City's Fifth Avenue that same month.

On his way home from the war he won $17,000 during a four day poker game on the Queen Mary. Half went to his parents who paid off their house; and the rest funded a two year escape from the horrors of war as he enjoyed his Indian motorcycle and "lived it up" at the shore in Ocean City, NJ.

Barb and Will met in 1952 and were married April 4, 1953. They lived in Delaware County, PA until their move to Elverson (Chester County), PA in 1975. They moved to Littleton in 1994 to be closer to their grandchildren. Alzheimer's disease was taking over their lives and in 2002 Guardian Care nursing home in Roanoke Rapids became Will's home. The family expresses their deepest appreciation to the management and staff at Guardian Care for their care and compassion.

Will is survived by a son, Bill of Raleigh; his daughter-in-law, Beth; grandchildren, Lillie and Read.

A Celebration of Will's life, death, and resurrection will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church, 16 Calvary Church Road, Littleton, NC 27850 on September 30, 2005, at 5 p.m. The family will receive friends following the service at the church's Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church or to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org. Arrangements by Askew Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, NC.

I hate it when they make typos in obituaries. In the one below, I thought, "Damn, she hang glided when she was 8 years old?" The narrator became more and more unreliable as the narrative continued, with the point-of-no-return being, "She graduated from Seymour High School in May..."

Kari was a free spirit who loved to travel and experience adventure whether that was hang gliding off Jockey's Ridge; kayaking with friends on Ft. Loudon Lake; rock climbing; walking in the woods with her Mom; traveling through Europe with her Dad, brother and friends; feeling the wind on her face while sailing with her Grandpa; and her very favorite -- a wonderful day at the beach with her Aunt Kelley and friends.

She graduated from Seymour High School in May and was attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville on both a four year scholarship and a Hope scholarship. She was in the National Honor Society, Beta Club, top ten percent of her class and Who's Who in American High Schools.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Friends of Jockey's Ridge, P.O. Box 358, Nags Head, NC 27959 or Friends of the Smokies, P.O. Box 5650, Sevierville, TN 37860-5650 to commemorate the life of a bright, energetic young woman who left this world too soon.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 28 at Atchley Funeral Home Seymour from 6 -- 8 p.m. A private burial will be held in the afternoon on September 29.

The memorial service and celebration of Kari's life will be held Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m. at Atchley Funeral Seymour Chapel with the Rev. Dave Cross officiating.